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FRIDAY EDITION:

Large WiFi Router Guard Cover (Blocks About 90% of WiFi Router EMF While You can Still use The Router) Blocks 5G!  Thanks Bart- N1UB for the heads up for this breakthru product!

About this item

• Blocks about 90% of the EMF large WiFi routers emit including the new 5G
• Easy installation, no assembly
• Fits the large WiFi routers like, Comcast, Xfinity, ATT Uverse...
• 12 inches long x 11 7/8 inches high x 5 1/2 inches wide
• $89.99 at Amazon

A review on Amazon:

5.0 out of 5 stars First, my husband thought I was a loon...then he saw, with his own eyes, that it worked!!

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2022

Years ago when wifi came out my husband immediately got us signed-up. About a year into the new wifi I started noticing odd noises in my ears only to find out that I was starting to get tinnitus ... great, just what I wanted! So I researched and researched to find the cause and along the way the tinnitus has only gotten worse. So my research led me to EMFs and dirty electricity i.e. internet connections and the like. Our society relies on wifi in so many ways, so we almost can live without it plus we also have wifi home cameras, so we couldn't just remove the wifi totally. This led me to purchase the old Monster box connection to hook-up directly (I'm sure you all remember them) to the computer and not use the wifi. It certainly helped a LOT, but the tinnitus was still there to some degree, though not as strong. So my next move was to purchase this large wifi router guard cover where I could put all the wifi gadgets inside and hopefully it would do the job. Well, my husband thought I was a loon for getting it and said there is no way it will work. I also used some foil to completely cover where all the wires come in to the box. Not days later my husband was attempting to use the wifi on the kitchen counter with his laptop and simply could not get connected, then he looked at me and said, hum, I guess that metal box works! We laughed. BTW, The tinnitus is wonderfully going away and some days I have NONE and it's only been maybe 10 days or so since I purchased the box. It has been YEARS since the tinnitus started and now it is going away! Only those with this condition can truly appreciate the silence. I can actually hear CLEARLY again! So it really doesn't matter what others say about this router box. They can laugh and poke fun all they want. I have first hand experience with this in only a matter of days and that's good enough for me! Those who experience tinnitus will be amazed at how QUIET life can be again. Also, you still can get wifi, just don't use foil on the wire area and you're good to go! I LOVE my router box!!

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a scam.

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2020

This is nothing more than a wire file folder rack and some sheet metal. If you bought one of these, you've been conned. If you're thinking about buying one of these, don't waste your money.

Great wastebasket. Priced a little high though.

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2020

I can fit entire reams of paper in there! The rectangular shape does impact your free throw but if you're trying to improve your game this is a great challenge over a round wastebasket. And your important documents will be unaffected by 5G!

It works, my plants proved it!

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020

I purchased this because my router and associated satellite/cable equipment where in a corner where I had several large plants. The plants were dying, someone told me about this WIFI router guard. Problem solved! I highly recommend this product.

Press coverage of eight-year-old's ISS ham radio contact

Kent's Isle of Thanet News reports on the amateur radio contact between 8-year-old Isabella Payne and NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS on the International Space Station

In the Isle of Thanet News, Kathy Bailes, writes:

A Broadstairs eight-year-old has chatted with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station and a recording of the conversation will feature on the NASA website.

Isabella Payne spoke to Astronaut Kjell Lindgren as the ISS flew overhead last week.

The youngster was with dad Matthew [M0LMK] who is a license holding amateur radio enthusiast and tutor. He and Isabella are both members of Hilderstone Radio Society.

Matthew said: “Isabella has been a member of the radio club ever since she was born and has been playing with the radio since she was six. Because I have the full licence she can sit on my knee and use the radio to speak to people as long as I am controlling it. Everyone at the club can do that. She has been involved in a few radio events, Children On The Air events, and will hopefully go for her own licence soon.

Read full story by Kathy Bailes and listen to the recording on the Isle of Thanet News site at
https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2022/08/10/broadstairs-eight-year-old-to-feature-on-nasa-website-after-radio-chat-with-iss-astronaut/

Matthew M0LMK tweeted about the picture shown above:
"Isabella has been having an email exchange with the @NASA #ISS team, you know, as you do! She sent a photo for their publicity team and asked for it to be sent onto @astro_kjell. Here's what she got in return..."
https://twitter.com/m0lmk/status/1556976125359919105

ILLW: Veraval Light House AT3VLH

For the first time Veraval Light House situated at south coast of Gujarat State from India will be activated with the Special Amateur Radio Callsign AT3VLH on August 19-22

The Lighthouse is activated by active Ham Radio Operator Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP from Rajkot (Gujarat) India. It is SOLO operator Activation to experiment learn and spread awareness with amateur radio spirit.

Location
Lat:   20° 54' 41'' N
Long:  70° 21' 11'' E
Grid:   ML50ev
CQ Zone: 22
ITU Zone: 41

Map https://goo.gl/maps/kgU3xmZ4ezwktvg56

Ham Radio School Outreach: How to talk about amateur radio with schools

DX News from the ARRL

August 12, 2022

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by The Daily DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

AZERBAIJAN, 4K. Dirk, DK1DKE is active as 4K7DK until August 13. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via DK1DKE, by the Bureau or LoTW.

TANZANIA, 5H. Eugen, DL8AAI will be active as 5H2JK/p during a hiking tour in Kilimanjaro National Park (5HFF-0005) until August 17, and some days after hiking, from Moshi. Activity will be holiday style, mainly on SSB on 20 to 10 meters. Check for WSPR beacon signals from 5H2JK/P on 15 meters which will be activated when the antenna is operational. QSL via DL8AAI.

MALAWI, 7Q. Junior, 7Q7JN has been active as 7Q7EMH from the radio station at the Embangweni Mission Hospital in the Northern Region. Activity has been on 30, 15 and 12 meters using CW and FT8. QSL via LoTW or ClubLog.

INDONESIA, 8H7/8I7. To celebrate the 77th anniversary of independence, amateurs will be using 8H7 and 8I7 call signs from August 13 to 21. Activity will be on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters and on 2m/70cm for Satellites, as well VHF Terrestrial on 2 meters, using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8 and FM (Satellite).

MALDIVES, 8Q. Giovanni, IZ2DPX will be active as 8Q7AG until August 20. Activity will be on various HF bands as well as 6 meters. QSL to IZ2DPX direct, via HE9ERA by the Bureau, LoTW or ClubLog's OQRS. Also, Stefan, EA5Q will be active as 8Q7QE from August 14 to 24. QSL via EA5Q. All contacts will be confirmed via LoTW.

USA, N. Special event station N7C is commemorating the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II, until August 19. Look for them on 7265, 14265 and 18130 kHz using CW, FT8 or phone. QSL via Herb, N7HG. Herb's father, John V. Goodluck, was one of the US Marine Corps Navajo Code Talkers, serving in the South Pacific in WWII.

PAKISTAN, AP75. Members of the Pakistan Amateur Radio Society (PARS) will operate under special call sign AP75PAK and Pakistani hams may use the "AP75" prefix with their existing call sign suffixes for the month of August to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pakistan's Independence. Activity will be on various HF bands and modes, 6 meters and the satellites.

INDIA, AT2. Members of the West Bengal Radio Club, VU2WB, will activate the special call sign AT2AAM to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Independence of India. Activity will be on various HF Bands. QSL via AT2AAM or VU2WB.

CUBA, CO. Lefty, CO2QU will be active until December 31 on 30 meters (FT8/FT4) and 6 meters (FT8). QSL via CO2QU direct or LoTW.

MAYOTTE, FH. Marek, F4VVJ will be active as FH4VVK from August 20, 2022 to April 1, 2024. Operations will be on various HF bands and modes. QSL direct (see QRZ.com) or eQSL.

ECUADOR, HD1. Members of the Ecuador DX Club will be active as HD1HERO until August 12 to commemorate the August 10th Heroes and will be on all bands and modes.

SAUDI ARABIA, HZ. Members of the Saudi Amateur Radio Society will be using the special call sign HZ1CPCF for the "Crown Prince Camel Festival" until September 4. Activity has been on 20, 17, 15 and 6 meters using CW, SSB and FT8/FT4. QSL via HZ1SAR.

DJIBOUTI, J2. Jeje, F8FKJ will be active as J20EE sometime this month and into September. His activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL via F4DXW direct only.

GRENADA, J3. Greg, N9GB will be active as J38GB from August 12 to 19. He expects to be using CW and SSB on 40 to 6 meters including the newer bands. QSL via his home call sign, LoTW, and possibly ClubLog.

ISLE OF MAN, MD. Dale, EI7HDB will be active as MD/EI7HDB from August 14 to 19. Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL EI7HDB via the Bureau.

ALAND ISLAND, OG0. Operators Alex, UT5UY/OH5UY, Pasi, OH2MZB, Jouni, OH2JIU, Niko, OH5CZ, Toni, OH5CY, Jere, OH5ELX and Juha, OH5CW will be active as OH5CW from August 20 to 27. Activity will be on 160 to 2 meters with a focus on 6 meters and the newer bands, using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via OH5C.

SEYCHELLES, S7. Operators EA3WL and EA3BT will be active as S79/EA3WL and S79/EA3BT until August 23. The operation will be in SAT mode only, on QO-100, RS-44 and others, in a holiday style DXpedition, using SSB, CW and FT8. QSL via EA3BT or OQRS.

ST. KITTS, V4. Jim, NT5V is active as V4/NT5V until August 18. Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL via home call sign, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW. In addition, Gary, G0FWX will be active as V47FWX from August 21 to 30. Activity will be holiday style on various HF bands using SSB only. QSL via M0URX.

THURSDAY EDITION: Not much news aroaund to publish today but I will keep looking...Today's muffinhead.....Just amother reason why you shouldn't store your ammo near your electric car..  seven stupid things ham need....

HINTS AND KINKS:

WEDNESDAY EDITION: Good morning, a little reprieve from the heat here....Monkey Pox declared a public emergency by the Feds, what we really have is a full blown case of Donkey Pox by our elected leaders....Let's see how Tesla's Full Self-Driving mode does with detecting child-sized mannequins......Are you among the one in three Americans who gulps down a multivitamin every morning, probably with a sip of water? The truth about this popular habit may be hard to swallow.

Joe- K1JEK working on a  new prototype antenna design- the "Cobra Maxima"- 2 thru 160m

RTTY turns 100

On August 9, 1922 a text was typed in an airplane and simultaneously printed out at a ground station

A translation of the DARC post reads:

With this experiment, the US Navy Department gave the telex procedure wings - exactly 100 years ago. From now on it was possible to transmit texts wirelessly at a speed of up to 100 words per minute. The ministry immediately pushed for messages to be made available in the opposite direction, namely from the ground to the plane. It was the birth of radio telex - "RTTY".

After the Second World War, the first telexes came into the hands of radio amateurs in the USA, who then modified their transmitters for frequency shift keying (FSK). RTTY had now also arrived in the amateur radio service.

With the advent of personal computers at the beginning of the 1980s, they replaced the previously widespread electromechanically generated RTTY with very simple RTTY programs. With the introduction of digital technology and the development of new types of transmission such as PSK31 and later FT8, RTTY has lost its previous importance in amateur radio. It's different in the maritime radio service: Despite modern and fast digital processes, RTTY transmissions still have their place there, e.g. to warn of dangers or to transmit current sea weather reports to the skippers.

An image in the Library of Congress shows the teleprinter radio used by the US Navy Department in August 1922 to receive typed radio messages from a naval aircraft, see
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002697173/

10 GHz QSO between Portugal and Canary Islands

On July 30 Michael CT1BYM and Cecilio EB8BRZ achieved a contact on 10 GHz from Portugal to the Canary Islands

In this translation of a post on the REP site Michael CT1BYM writes:

During the evening of July 30 a QSO was made between EB8BRZ (IL28HA) and CT1BYM (IM57PC). This was my first ever QSO done at 10GHz between EA8-CT, using tropospheric propagation, distance around 1187km. It was also a first for Cecilio, EB8BRZ.

A sectorial beacon was installed in my balcony, direction EA8, with 2W and a 10dBi horn, transmitting CW and Opera. The beacon runs 24×7, helping identifying the possible QSO window. Beacon runs at 10368.825MHz, TCXO disciplined.

The beacon signal was received at EB8BRZ at 19:34UT, so we decided to go to SSB immediately.

At Cecilio, EB8BRZ, the working conditions were a 60cm Procom prime focus dish, 2W, IC-705 for IF

TUESDAY EDITION: Wife wants an inground 16 foot round pool in the backyard, I am praying for a bad batch of weather to change her mind, I could dig out the hole with the mini-excavator, plumb it and rebar it and have a friend spray gunite but........According to the Amateur Radio Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 31st July, through Sunday, 7th August there were 207 countries active....

Solar activity continued to decline this week, with average daily sunspot number dropping from 91.1 to 36.6 and average solar flux at 95.7, down from 107.6 the week prior.

Thursday's sunspot number was above the average for the previous seven days at 52.  Solar flux on Thursday was above the previous seven day average at 108.8.  The 2300 UTC flux was 111.3.

We've not seen lower values since mid-April in bulletin ARLP015 with average sunspot number at 34.4, and the end of February in ARLP008 with average solar flux at 95.4.

To track solar cycle 25 progress, I like to compare current averages against the same numbers from last year.  In the 2021 version of ARLP031, average daily sunspot numbers were 33.1 (lower by 3.5 from this week's report), and average solar flux was 83, down 12.7 from the current average.

The lower activity was quite noticeable over the past week on 10 and 12 meters, but there must still be some daily sporadic-E, from what I've seen on an email list devoted to 10 meter propagation beacons. I have one myself, K7RA/B transmitting CW from CN87uq on 28.2833 MHz.  The outlook from the USAF space weather group shows a meager forecast for solar flux, this one from forecasters Hoseth and Strandness on Thursday. The latest forecast is a bit more optimistic than the Wednesday version, with solar flux at 112 instead of 100 for the next few days.

Predicted solar flux is 112 on August 5 to 7, 110 on August 8 and 9, 112 on August 10, 114 on August 11 and 12, 98 on August 13 and 14, 100 on August 15 and 16, 98 on August 17 and 18, then 96, 96 and 98 on August 19 to 21, 96 again on August 22 and 23, 92 on August 24 to 28, 90 and 92 on August 29 and 30, 94 on August 31 through September 1, 96 on September 2 and 3, then 98 on September 4 to 10, and 100 on September 11 and 12.

NRAO program to educate emerging generation of scientists using amateur radio

A new National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) program aims to educate emerging generations about the electromagnetic spectrum through an interactive, substantive experience with amateur radio. Funded by a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the program Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (and Why Amateur Radio Matters) will focus on broadening the excitement of amateur radio among BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students.

Bringing together the expertise of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), amateur radio enthusiasts, and subject matter experts (SMEs), the two-year program will:

1. Introduce two cohorts of students to radio technologies,

2. Engage these students in hands-on activities that will deepen their knowledge of astronomy, particularly radio astronomy,

3. Support them in attaining their Technician Class and General Class amateur radio licenses, and

4. Develop a scalable curriculum to be shared nationwide (and internationally) through Superknova, NRAO’s online learning platform.

Students will learn about the very real ways in which the electromagnetic spectrum is a natural resource, every bit as limited and precious as the oceans and forests. They will also learn how amateur radio is an essential part of our national emergency infrastructure, and a critical resource in times of climate change and pandemics. The program is expected to start January 2023, initially serving 10 students. According to Dr. Tony Beasley, Director of the NRAO, “Amateur radio continues to be incredibly important to the nation and global communications, and NRAO is excited to be working with ARDC to bring a new generation and diverse communities to the field.”

About the National Radio Astronomy Observatory

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF), operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Furthering NSF’s mission to advance the progress of science, the NRAO enables research into the Universe at radio wavelengths and provides world-class telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise to the scientific community. NRAO’s mission includes a commitment to broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and promoting astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates three research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), which are available for use by scientists from around the globe, regardless of institutional or national affiliation. NRAO welcomes applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. For more information about NRAO, go to https://public.nrao.edu.

PREDICT Version 2.3.0 released

John Magliacane, KD2BD announced the release of PREDICT Version 2.3.0. PREDICT is a widely-used open source satellite tracking / orbital prediction application for Linux and Unix computing environments including PCs, laptops, Raspberry PIs, and Android devices running under a Termux environment. A new limited capability version that operates under a 32-bit DOS environment has been released as well.

PREDICT version 2.3.0 introduces an easy-to-use satellite transponder database editor and support for a mouse (or touch screen under a Termux/Android environment). New features make it possible to run PREDICT in Multi-Satellite Tracking Mode, left click on any satellite displayed on the screen, and be brought directly into Single Satellite Tracking Mode for more detailed tracking information on the chosen satellite. In addition, previously separate "Vocalizer" code has been integrated into PREDICT's mainline source. Text-to-speech operations are now executed in separate threads rather than forked background processes as was the practice in the past.

PREDICT was originally released under an Open Source Software General Public License in late 1999, and is cataloged under the Smithsonian/NASA Astrophysics Data System hosted by Harvard University. PREDICT has been successfully employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration where it provides orbital prediction and tracking data for VLBI radio telescope steering. PREDICT is employed by the European Space Agency's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory where it provides tracking and velocity profile data used to steer the 25 meter dish antenna at the Chilbolton Observatory (https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2006/03/Chilbolton_Observatory). PREDICT also powers AMSAT North America's on-line satellite prediction service (https://www.amsat.org/track/), and has served as the basis for a host of other derivative open-source software applications.

Additional information, including screenshots and download links, are available via the PREDICT website at https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict.html

John Magliacane, KD2BD

Hamchallenge: IARU-R1 announces winners

The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 invited amateurs to come up with a game changing idea, which could lead to more licensed radio amateurs, they have now announced the results

The IARU Region 1 site says:

On April 30th, the first edition of “IARU Region 1 Hamchallenge” was announced which is an initiative to bring new ideas to the Amateur Radio community.

After careful consideration and review of all the participants’ proposals, in addition to having an interview with them to present their ideas, the judging committee came to a final decision:

The 1st place goes to 5B4AHZ Nestor and HB9FEU Christian (ex aequo).

Nestor presented the “Ham Radio Escape Room” project, the idea came during the Covid-19 crisis, when people needed to find a way to have fun remotely, while actual, physical escape rooms were closed. The radio-based escape room can be played in a very similar way to a virtual escape room with amateur radio themes/stories where teams playing the game can also communicate via radio rather than a webcam.

Christian presented “A public database of fun projects for innovation”, a public database of fun projects for innovation and technology-oriented hobbyists with no or little experience and equipment. The project description may include an indication of the level of complexity and the required time, prerequisite knowledge, required equipment, etc.

Both projects received the applause of the IARU Reg. 1 Executive Committee and a warm thanks for their involvement in amateur radio future activities.

The 3rd place goes to IU2FRL Luca and his team with their “UrgentSat” project, describing a simple carry-on luggage that can be transported to schools or public demonstrations and providing a brief demonstration of the incredible capabilities of the Ham Radio World, how using cheap and second-hand tools can achieve great distances reliable communications.

The transmissions are directed to the QO-100 satellite, a geostationary device with massive ground coverage capable of repeating SSB voice and both wideband and narrowband digital streams (including high quality video channels).

This project combines multiple sciences interconnected, creating an interesting environment to approach new users in the communication technologies at any level.

Guy ZS6GUY wins the “Youth prize” for “A Workbook that will showcase various aspects of the hobby”. The proposed workbook is designed to help newcomers by increasing their knowledge of different aspects of our hobby and this workbook can become a valid tool for mentors to teach some of the most common amateur radio activities.

MONDAY EDITION:One of the key aspects of this hobby is collecting QSL cards.“QSL” in radio's international Q code can be a request to confirm reception or an acknowledgement that a message has been received. Operators would exchange QSL cards to prove how far their radio signal could reach. Traditionally, they were about the size of a post card and contained details regarding the connection such as the time, date and call signs.....

Probably a lot easier if they used their arms...

 

WEEKEND EDITION: I got on 3928 yesterday to say hello and a band of lightning and rain shut me down as fast as I was on the air, oh well..

Foundations of Amateur Radio

The microphone gain game ...

One of the most misunderstood settings on your radio is the microphone gain. You'll often hear people talking about adjusting it up or down depending on what they hear and the results are often displeasing to the ear.

The very first thing to know is that the microphone gain is likely the single most audible setting on your radio, right after the tuning frequency. It's pretty much the first variable between your voice and your transmitter. Set it too low and you'll hear nothing, set it too high and you'll hear gibberish.

I said it's pretty much the first thing, but it's not the very first. That's your voice, unique in all its glory, loud, soft, happy, sad, funny or not, it's the thing that your microphone captures to transmit. Closely coupled to your voice is the distance between your mouth and your mike. The closer you are, the louder, the further, the softer and the more background noise creeps in.

As an aside, speaking of noise, there's background noise at play, but there's also the noise that comes from the audio circuitry itself, which can for example change depending on the temperature of your radio. I'm going to refer to both as noise here, even though they're slightly different.

So, starting with the ideal model where you always speak in the same way, at the same volume, at the same distance from the microphone, with a constant temperature in your radio, at all times, the next thing is the microphone gain, or gain.

Gain is an imperfect attempt at corralling your utterings into electrical signals without causing the audio circuit to distort or drown in noise. Distortion comes as a result of overloading of the audio circuit when the gain is too high, causing clipping, which essentially changes the audio waveform into something that no longer resembles your voice. At the low end of the gain range there is no difference between audio and noise which results in your voice being buried inside a hissing noise.

You might wonder why we don't just build transmitters that cannot clip and increase your volume. Well, we do. We use things like AGC, or Automatic Gain Control to attempt to prevent such things from happening, but this isn't perfect.

All this results in the microphone gain being a setting that you need to tune to your voice and adjust as things change. Overall, the best outcome is when you set the gain so the AGC just engages when you talk normally.

This gain setting also applies to computer generated signals, often fed into your radio via an audio or microphone input. If you set the gain too low, noise is the problem, set it too high and the Automatic Gain Control will distort the signal to the point where it no longer works and causes interference for everyone else including the station that you're trying to contact.

On older radios the output power was fixed. This is also true for Software Defined Radios. To reduce output power, you can change the microphone gain down and reduce the power. Change it to halfway and your output power is essentially reduced to half power. This works for a range of settings, but get too low and we're back to noise and audio fighting each other.

The opposite isn't true.

You cannot increase the microphone gain to increase power. The moment you exceed the audio circuit range your signal is distorted. On an SDR this means that you're exceeding the ability of the Analogue to Digital converter to represent your audio. In digital terms, zero means no sound and all on means 100%. If your audio is so loud as to only be 100% on, that's like sending a tone out the transmitter, resembling anything but your voice.

All of what I've talked about is related to SSB signals and to some extent AM. FM is a different animal entirely. For starters, output power on FM is fixed. The next difference is the signal or channel width. Without going into full detail, FM comes in different widths, WFM or Wideband FM, NFM, or Narrowband FM, and between the two, "normal" FM. To make things more fun, not everyone agrees on what each one means at any given time. Also, channel width and channel spacing are not the same thing, but that's for another day.

Gain aside for a moment, consider two matched FM radios using the same channel width. Your voice volume is determined by how much of the channel you use. Louder means wider, softer means narrower. Adjust the gain up, the signal gets wider, but the limit of the channel width remains, get too high and it clips at the channel width and distorts. At the other end, changing the gain down, you'll use less of the channel width and eventually the noise and your voice will be at the same level and you won't be heard.

Let's look at what happens when you use a normal FM signal to transmit to a narrowband FM receiver. Essentially your signal is too wide and the result is that your voice will be clipped unless you speak really softly or if you've set the gain really low, either way comes with more noise.

Similarly, if you transmit a narrowband FM signal to a normal FM receiver, then your voice will be very low, regardless of the microphone gain setting and turning it up will only distort it due to clipping inside your transmitter.

So, for FM, before fiddling with the gain, make sure that you're using the same FM mode as the other station. One thing to remember is when you use a repeater, if the audio is always too loud for everyone, your mode is probably too narrow. Similarly, if the audio is always too soft and you always need to turn up the volume on your radio, your mode is likely too wide. Check your radio specifications to determine what each mode means.

In broadcast audio this whole thing is managed by calibration using standard tones, but as amateurs we tend to rely on other people reporting their feelings on the quality of your voice with the often heard admonishment to adjust the microphone gain.

I'm Onno VK6FLAB

Radio seized for interfering with police transmissions

In Texas, authorities cracked down after a hand-held radio caused emergency interference with police transmissions.

Mike Askins KE5CXP speaking on ARNewsLine said that it had operated for months on emergency frequencies used by the Young County Sheriff's Office. According to local media reports, the transmissions on the dispatch channels often included the voices of a man, woman and some children yelling at one another and the sounds of a barking dog.

A story in the Olney Enterprise newspaper said that the police were so hampered in using their own assigned frequencies that they often had to use cell phones instead to communicate.

Sheriff Travis Babcock contacted the Federal Communications Commission which provided him with an official statement to read on the emergency channel but that failed to bring the transmissions to a halt. The news report said that on July 8th two officers patrolling in their car heard the unauthorized traffic and were able to track down the radio and its owner.

It was not clear what charges would be filed against the owners of the radio, which is now the property of the county sheriff's office. Charges could range from a misdemeanour for interfering with public duty to a federal offense for interfering with emergency communications.

Amateur Radio Newsline Report
**
HAMS RESPOND TO DEADLY FLOODS IN KENTUCKY

DON/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Kentucky, where parts of the state have been hit by deadly floods. Randy Sly W4XJ brings us up to date.

RANDY: The last week of July found amateur radio operators on alert in Eastern Kentucky as a trail of thunderstorms brought flooding that left at least 37 people dead. Jack Hedges, KY4TPR, told Amateur Radio Newsline that he and a team of hams operated on ARES frequencies from the State Emergency Operations Center in Frankfort. He was assisted by Mike Swigert, KE4YRI, Dennis Lutz, W2QN, Patrick Compton, KF4FMZ, and Odis Carroll, W4IOD, who served as an official relay station for the EOC.

Woody Hartlove, KO4UMQ, Harlan County EC and SKYWARN Coordinator, reported that SKYWARN was activated for the Jackson Weather Forecast Office three times in his area due to flash flooding. He and another ham were also deployed with the Red Cross to provide communications for their disaster action teams.

In addition to causing loss of life, the flood wreaked havoc on the electric service, waterlines and roads. As flood waters recede, residents in many areas of Eastern Kentucky continue to remain stranded due to the destruction of scores of small bridges linking roadways.

***

NY ELECTRONICS MARKETER FACES NEARLY $700,000 FCC FINE

DON/ANCHOR: A Brooklyn, New York marketer of wireless microphones has been fined nearly $700,000 by the US Federal Communications Commission for what the agency said is a decade-long practice of selling these devices, which are not RF-compliant. The FCC said that 32 microphones sold by Sound Around failed to comply with FCC requirements governing emissions power and use of the spectrum, rules that protect against harmful interference to other spectrum users. The FCC has rejected the business' assertion that the dollar amount of the proposed fine was too high, that a decade of warnings and notices sent by the FCC was insufficient and that photos of the company's marketing websites did not provide proof that the item was available for purchase. According to a press release from the FCC, the US Department of Justice will be given the case to handle if Sound Around fails to pay the fine.

(FCC)

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AMATEURS IN CANADA GAIN EXPANDED ACCESS ON 60M

DON/ANCHOR: In Canada, amateurs have new privileges on 60 meters. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has those details.

KEVIN: Amateurs in Canada have been granted a new band for operating in an official update from Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada. The announcement on July 28th said that hams in that country are now able to use the worldwide allocation on 60m that spans 15 kHz between 5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz. The band fits between the existing Canadian amateur channelised privileges at 5332, 5348, 5373 and 5405 kHz and gives hams secondary user privileges to transmit at a maximum of 100 watts and a bandwidth of no more than 2.8 kHz on a non-interference basis.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

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ILLINOIS CLUB GETS GRANT FOR ORIENTEERING PROJECT

DON/ANCHOR: Radio orienteering is about to get a whole lot more popular in the US state of Illinois and Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us why.

ANDY: An amateur radio club in Illinois has received funds to support an array of radio orienteering events they will be hosting to share the activities with outdoor enthusiasts, youngsters and members of the public. This will also be designed to serve as a hoped-for gateway to amateur radio. The grant given to the Sangamon Valley Radio Club from Amateur Radio Digital Communications will underwrite the club's costs for supply of low-power transmitters, controllers, handheld directional radio receivers, compasses, maps and related items for the fox-hunting activities.

According to a press release from the ARDC, the club's experience will extend even farther into the community: After a number of events, club members will create a list of equipment other clubs would need to start activities of their own that sharpen people's direction-finding skills. The club will also offer other clubs guidance. ARDC said in its press release [quote]: "While the sport is very popular in Europe, as well as parts of Asia, growth in the United States and Canada has been slow." [endquote]. The Sagamon club will begin its activities here in the US with Scout groups and the Civil Air Patrol, starting this summer and continuing into the fall. More events are planned in 2023.

(ARDC)

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SILENT KEY: JOHN DILKS, VK6CJW/MØCJW, FRIEND AND MENTOR

DON/ANCHOR: A well-known and well-regarded amateur in both Australia and the UK has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: With regret it is announced that John Dilks, VK6CJW (also M0CJW) is now silent key. He died on 29th July, aged 86 and will be much missed on the air by his friends worldwide.

John was a character in the very best of amateur radio tradition. He divided his time until recently between Perth in Western Australia and his UK home near Newark. In his younger days, for example, he took his whole family in a battered old van overland through Europe, the Eastern Bloc countries, when travel was very difficult, through the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and beyond. He was involved in many enterprises and international interests and even politics. He would regale his adventures to amateur clubs and others when invited to do so. He was to be found on HF almost daily with VK when conditions allowed, and on repeaters locally. He was also to be found at many radio rallies in the UK with a keen following.

John was a good, dependable and loyal friend to many: always happy to help and encourage, swap yarns and pass on his own tips. He will be very much missed. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Jeremy Boot G4NJH

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HAMFEST INDIA RETURNS WITH IN-PERSON EVENT

DON/ANCHOR: Hams in India have been waiting since 2019 for the return of Hamfest India in person and it is now back on the calendar. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us that report.

JIM: The organising committee for Hamfest India has announced the event's return on the 12th and 13th of November in Mysore, Karnataka. As with so many other major amateur radio events, this well-attended event, which made its debut in India in 1991, had not been held in person as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. K. Shankar Prasad, VU2SPK, the event's general convenor, said the committee is putting together an agenda and a website and both should be available soon. The website is under development at www dot hfi2022 dot com (www.hfi2022.com)

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(HAMFEST INDIA)

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'TEAPOT' SPECIAL EVENT BREWING In WEST VIRGINIA

DON/ANCHOR: If special events are your cup of tea, try this one in West Virginia. Jim Damron N8TMW tells us hams are ready to serve.

JIM: Something's brewing in Chester, West Virginia: It's a special event station celebrating a beloved local roadside symbol which calls itself the World's Largest Teapot. Tea and QSOs will be served starting August 8th through the 14th, in conjunction with the local Teapot Festival that takes place in the northern West Virginia community. Organized by the Hancock Auxcomm Team in Hancock, West Virginia, this is very possibly the world's largest tea party: Amateurs will be on the air with 1x1 call signs WØT through W9T and there will be a bonus station WV8HAT. Hams contacting all 10 call signs will earn a certificate for a full cup. Those working all 10 plus the bonus station are endorsed for a full pot.

The roadside teapot itself is a former advertising symbol created before World War II and before it gained its spout and handle, it was a humble barrel that advertised a brand of root beer. Standing 14 feet high, it is big enough to hold a colorful history and this annual amateur radio ritual now marking sixth year. As usual, however, you'll have to provide your own biscuits and cakes.

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DV SCOTLAND, PHOENIX UK MERGE DMR NETWORKS

DON/ANCHOR: A merger between two popular DMR networks has promised users the best of both. Jeremy Boot G4NJH brings us that update.

JEREMY: The DV Scotland and Phoenix UK DMR networks have merged, simplifying integration with other networks - both digital and analogue. With both networks having a wide array of repeaters, reflectors and servers, the two were considered complimentary and a natural for such a merger. This had been a work in progress for many weeks. The new network now benefits from a variety of DMR, D-Star and Yaesu System Fusion repeaters as well as Allstar hubs and analogue simplex gateways.

Eric G6FGY told Newsline in an email that current users will not notice any changes and the new network DVScotland-Phoenix will continue hosting a variety of nets accessible by various modes each week. Eric said the merger reflects rather a change in the management structure to operate the network.

A list of the nets hosted on this newly merged network can be seen using the link that appears in the text version of this week's newscast. The multimode network also supports Peanut, Echolink and HamShack Hotline. Computer and mobile users can also listen in by using the link asl dot dvscotland dot uk (asl.dvscotland.uk)

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH

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ALARA CONTEST ENCOURAGES INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP

DON/ANCHOR: For more than 40 years, YLs in Australia have been hosting a contest that doesn't just involve scorekeeping - it also encourages international communication. Graham Kemp VK4BB explains how it works.

GRAHAM: Yes there are awards to be had in the 42nd contest sponsored by the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association. There are even certificates and trophies - but organisers want participants around the world to know that the real goal of the 42nd annual ALARA Contest on the 27th and 28th of August is to get all licensed ham radio operators around the world - OMs and YLs alike - talking to one another. By spotting on the clusters and even on Facebook, all the competitors actually work together to make it easier to make those important contacts. Competition? Yes! But friendly competition. Be listening too for some of the newest licenced YLs as well as Girl Guides and Scouts. Some contacts are expected to be made on Echolink as well.

Visit the ALARA contest page for more details. The link is in this week's text version of the newscast script. You'll find the rules and any other details you need to know to get into the contest.

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CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRIP TO WARM UP THE BANDS

DON/ANCHOR: It's time to strap on those cross-country skis -- if you're in Australia, that is -- and grab your radio equipment. Hams are set for high adventure in the Victorian Alps, as we hear from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

JASON: There's nothing like a winter trip through the snow-filled Victorian Alps to bring some Winter warmth to the bands. That's what a team of cross-country skiing radio amateurs in Australia is hoping for as they call QRZ between Friday August 5th and Tuesday August 9th. The activators include Stephen, VK3SN, Gerard, VK3GT, Bronwen VK3FIRH and others and they will be on the HF bands, 80 through 10m, using SSB and FT8. They will also be on 2m and 70 CM simplex and on repeaters. They'll be using lithium batteries and light solar panels for power. This isn't the first time many of these hams have been making this kind of winter trip. Past travels have been quite an adventure, involving operations from igloos and a number of remote peaks.

Listening for them promises to be quite an adventure too.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

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INDIAN SCHOOLGIRLS' SATELLITE LAUNCHED WITH 75 EXPERIMENTS

DON/ANCHOR: A satellite built by girls in India has been stirring some excitement. John Williams VK4JJW tells us why.

JOHN: A small satellite built by 750 schoolgirls in India, will be on board for the maiden flight of the Indian Space Research Organization's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle this month. The students were mentored by SpaceKidz India in the construction of this 8-kilogram satellite. It carries 75 small experiments, a camera to study solar panels in space and a variety of long range communications transponder experiments. The satellite also has a messaging system for amateur radio operators.

Although this is not the first student satellite built with the help of SpaceKidz India, this one is dfferent because it carries its own power systems and batteries to power an anticipated six-month-long orbit. This satellite is not, of course, the main payload for the launch vehicle. The rocket will also be carrying the Microsat 2A, which is designed to assist in the mapping of parcels of land.

At the time Newsline went to production, the launch was scheduled for August the 7th.

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WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Tom, KA1IS, (Kay Ay Won Eye Ess) who will be on the air as JW/KA1IS on Spitsbergen Island (EU-026) between the 10th and 16th of August. He'll be on various HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL via his home callsign.

Eugen, DL8AAI, will be active as 5H2JK from August 8th to 14th from the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, (National Park 5HFF-0005). He will operate afterward in the town of Moshi. Be listening on HF where he will be using SSB. QSL via home call through bureau only.

Along with around 300 other teams, the Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society will be celebrating the 25th annual Lighthouse and Lightship weekend on August 20th and 21st by activating the Point of Ayre Lighthouse. This will be "Lighthouse IM0001" for the weekend and operators will be using the club call sign, GT3FL for the full 48 hours. Listen on 80m through 70 cm. Operators will be using CW, SSB and some digital modes. There will be a special 25 years of ILLW downloadable certificate available for the lighthouse teams taking part. See QRZ.com for further details of GT3FL's activation.

Plan ahead to be listening for Kasimir, DL2SBY, will be active in Monaco as 3A/DL2SBY between October 20th and 23rd. He will be using mostly FT8 but some CW. He will be operating with 100 watts and mobile antennas. QSL only via ClubLog, direct or LoTW.

(OHIO PENN DX, IRTS)

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KICKER: YLs STILL CELEBRATE THE MESSAGE OF A TELEGRAPHY PIONEER

DON/ANCHOR: We end this week's report with the story of an international group of YLs paying tribute to a telegraphy pioneer. For that story we turn to Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: A statue stands in Cobourg, Canada honoring Fern Blodgett Sunde, the first Canadian woman to hold a second class wireless operator's certificate. Blodgett Sunde herself stands as a pioneer and role model for many women who've followed her path in sharpening their own telegraphy skills, even those in civilian life. During World War II, Blodgett Sunde crossed the Atlantic Ocean 78 times aboard a Norwegian ship because neither Canada nor Great Britain permitted women to work on board their country's ships. Recently, members of the Canadian Ladies Amateur Radio Association made trips of their own - some of them crossing oceans too - in order to see that statue. The visitors who arrived in Cobourg on July 28th included Ann Nutter VE3HAI, Sarla Sharma VU2SWS, Suzanne Snape VE7IM, Roberta Williams VA3RMWX and Janet Maggart, N9ZKU. They told the website, Today's Northumberland, that after watching the unveiling of the statue two years ago in an online video they started planning their own journey to be there in person.

Such tributes may not have the same sense of ceremony and pomp as the one in 1943, when Blodgett Sunde became the first woman to be honored by the King of Norway who gave her the Norwegian War Medal. But there is perhaps no greater honor than to be recognized by a generation that follows your path, a community of YL operators gathering from around the world to celebrate someone who led the way in wartime.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.
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HUNTSVILLE HAMFEST INVITATION

DON/ANCHOR: One final note: An invitation to join us August 20th at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama as we present our annual Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year award to Audrey McElroy, KM4BUN. We, along with the Huntsville Hamfest staff and our corporate partners CQ Communications, Yaesu USA, Heil Sound and RadioWavz Antennas, hope to see you there. To find out more, visit hamfest.org.

HAMS YOU MIGHT KNOW